Article #1 in a Series >>>>> Departments and Offices of the Minneapolis Public Schools >>>>> Office of Equality and Civil Rights

As I complete the advanced final draft of my new book, Understanding the Minneapolis Public Schools:  Current Condition, Future Prospect, I am conducting a final review for updating mission statements and staff composition.  I have in the last days and weeks listed and made comments on many offices and departments, with an emphasis on staff members and effectiveness.  In the current series of articles I will be emphasizing departmental function and mission statements, but I will give staff listing updates as I deem useful to my readers and will give staff composition in cases for which I have not previously done so.

 

Here I give information for the MPS Office of Equality and Civil Rights, drawn from the pertinent portal on the MPS website.  There is only one listed staff member, but presumably this work is also performed by staff in the office of the General Counsel:

 

MPS Office of Equality and Civil Rights

 

Director, Francisco Gonzalez

 

Our Mission:

The Office of Equality & Civil Rights is tasked with working collaboratively with all our stakeholders in enforcing non-discrimination and equal treatment for all our students, employees, parents and other stakeholders.

Our Values:

We believe that all members of the MPS community are responsible for promoting a positive working and learning environment where all persons are free to discuss any problems or questions they may have concerning discrimination or harassment without fear of intimidation or retaliation.

Our Vision:

We at the Office of Equality and Civil Rights envision and strive to attain a school system where equality and non-discrimination are:

1.) Integrated into the work and lives of every student, teacher, and staff member.

2.) Recognized as core institutional values, and will inform thinking, policies, and practices throughout our schools.

3.) Inherently intertwined with academic excellence and the development of leaders for a globally inclusive society.

4.) Protected by our commitment to investigate allegations of illegal harassment/discrimination and retaliation involving employees, students and outside parties connected to MPS (visitors, volunteers, etc.) & complaints of bullying of students.